Ford Focus

The Top Gear car review:Ford Focus

Owning

Running costs and reliability

The petrols look like decent value over their lifetime of ownership. Thanks to light weight, low drag and clever engine tech, the turbo 1.0-litre manages just 107g/km. The top one, the 182bhp 1.5-litre, does 0-62mph in 8.3sec, emits 124g/km of CO2 and returns 51.4mpg, which is good going for a petrol.

The corresponding diesels are about 10-15g/km less, so not a compelling advantage.

Ford’s guarantee is three years/60,000miles. Insurance runs from about 11E for low-power style to 20E for higher-power ST-Line and Vignale.

On finance, the various models are a spookily close match for their corresponding VW Golf versions. The most popular will be the 125bhp ST-Line, quoted on PCP at £225/month over 3yrs with a £5,000 initial deposit.

Go to the second trim, Zetec, and you’re in for Apple Carplay/Android Auto on a 6.5in touchscreen, and cruise. After that you’re into the Titanium levels.

The ST-Line gets a body kit and the tauter suspension. If you don’t like phone mirroring, the ST-Line asks just £350 to step from a 6.5 to 8-inch screen and add built-in satnav. You get that as standard in the ST-Line X, plus power driver’s seat and 18s. Also red brake calipers, which we all know are worth a second a lap.